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 Last night in New York
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At the table at last night's American Associates of the Royal Academy's 20th annual gala at the Rainbow Room. Photo: DPC. |
Many things going on (as well as the horrendous traffic – forgive me but it’s getting worse and worse). I went down to the Rainbow Room for the 20th anniversary gala of the American Associates of the Royal Academy Trust which manages the funds of the Royal Academy of Arts.
This can sound very stuffy to the American ear (“Royal Academy…etc.”) and indeed because it’s very Anglo, it can almost seem that way. Except. The American Associates of any organization based elsewhere in the world is never stuffy. The Americans who support culture and the arts in various countries are devoted and passionate. Cutting edge isn’t the right word for it, but it’s something close.
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Martin J. Sullivan, Sir Norman Rosenthal, and Hugh Hildesley |
It’s always the culture that draws people in to join. But the Royal Academy of Arts was founded in 1768 with the blessing of old King George III. Its first president was Sir Joshua Reynolds, the great 18th century portraitist. Its second president was Benjamin West, an American. Despite the name, they don’t receive financial support from the state or the Crown. It raises funds with its public art exhibitions. They are excellent and renowned. Its honorary president is Prince Charles.
Kathleen Hearst is its new Executive Director. The Board articulates it: Leonore (Mrs. Walter) Annenberg, Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat, Drue Heinz, Sylvia Hassenfeld, David Hockney, Jillian Sackler, John Whitehead, et al, with Ambassador (Denmark) Edward Elson as chairman. The dinner committee was chaired by Barbie (Mrs. Thomas) Bancroft, Jr., the Honorable Marife Hernandez Bell, The Honorable Robin Chandler Duke, and Mrs. Stanley De Forest Scott. Among the “Benefactors” are: Lee and James Slaughter, The Annenberg Foundation, Lily Safra, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Small, Mildred Brinn, Ambassador John Loeb and Sharon Handler, Carroll Petrie, David Rockefeller, Mrs. John Weinberg. You get the picture.
Last night Hugh Hildesley was master of ceremonies, and they honored John Whitehead and Sir Norman Rosenthal, the Academy’s Director of Exhibitions who is one of the great art connoisseurs and curators of art exhibitions in Europe. Sir Norman is a very outgoing, jolly fellow, an enthusiast. The great collector Charles Saatchi is said to have said about Sir Norman, “Museum directors will do anything for Norman – because of the respect and affection he inspires. I worship the water he walks on.”
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The Benjamin West Award (from an original design by Michelangelo). |
I took a picture of Sir Norman with Jeff Koons and Terrence Ko. He wanted to be photographed with the artists. He loves artists. He’s one of those outgoing people who gives the impression of intimacy almost on meeting. When he accepted his John Singleton Copley Award, he first discussed the proper pronunciation of Copley. COPE-ly, or COP-ly.
He told us he learned that COP-ly was the proper way. He then preceded to call the man COPE-ly throughout the rest of his little talk, which ultimately had the makings of a pep rally.
He’s obviously a man who generates excitement in his field. It’s a special place in the art world: making things happen. It’s a highly honored place because ultimately it brings in the cash to keep the wheels turning.
John Whitehead was presented his Benjamin West Award by the British Ambassador to the United Nations, His Excellency Sir John Sawers. Mr. Whitehead is a very highly regarded local citizen. He’s been honored many times in these past few years. He most recently received a Living Landmarks honor last week at Cipriani 42nd Street, as you may have noticed on the Diary.
Once head of Goldman Sachs, he’s held a number of distinguished and/or lofty positions in governments and philanthropically. He has a very plain-spoken manner and bearing. He’s 85, with a handsome, full head of white hair, and he recently married Cynthia whom he’d been seeing for several years. Cynthia, I could tell from my brief encounter with her, is fun to be around. So I took their picture together. |
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Lady Sawers, Martin Sullivan, and John Whitehead |
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Barbara Bancroft, Carl Tiedemann, and Kathleen Hearst |
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Last night he told us that the first piece of art he bought was in London. He was there with his wife and on their last night before returning to New York, they couldn’t find anything in the theater that they wanted to see. But he’d noticed a piece in the paper about an auction that night at Sotheby’s of a famous art collection.
He’d never been to an art auction before, and so, thinking that might be fun, he called the auction house. When he and his wife arrived at the auction house, he found they’d given two seats up front. The first item that came up was a drawing by Modigliani, a name he knew only from an art book that he owned. The estimate was $7 - $12,000 (this was back in 1971). So, just for the fun of it, he raised his hand to start the bidding at $5,000. He figured that it would be fun to make a bid (knowing that someone would raise it). Although on this night, the auctioneer couldn’t get another bid out of the audience. John Whitehead had bought his first piece of art.
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Sir Norman with his John Singleton Copley Award (designed by Frank Gehry) |
At the time, it was a very great expenditure for him. However, that Modigliani started him on a lifetime road of collecting. He finished his story about the art purchase by telling us that he took it back to New York the next day, unwrapped, holding it on his lap for the entire trans-Atlantic flight.
Last night was also Sir Norman Rosenthal’s birthday, and they surprised him with a cake.
Last night’s menu (which is a Cipriani menu, always including their famous croissant rolls and bread sticks) was Smoked Salmon, Fennel Salad and Crème Fraiche with Stone Cellars Chardonnay. Followed by Filet Mignon, Sauce Barolo; Seasonal Vegetables Mashed Potatoes served with CK Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon. Followed by Raspberry, Lemon and Peach Sorbets; Raspberries, Blueberries and Strawberries in a Chocolate Shell served with Proseco NV.
Time to leave. Cipriani’s food is good and they often serve a main course of a very thick and substantial filet mignon. It’s too much. It’s not necessary. I have a pretty big appetite but a 2 lb. chunka beef at 9 pm is not necessary for a comfortable and healthy rest of the night.
Bob Hardwick and his Orchestra had the crowd dancing from the get-go. Robert Isabell designed the décor. |
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Cynthia and John Whitehead |
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Terrence Ko, Sir Norman, and Jeff Koons |
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Lady Rosenthal |
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Barbara Jakobson |
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Katherine Pew and Alice Gordon |
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Dame Jillian Sackler |
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Katherine Pew and Troy Hollar |
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Stephen Antonson, Kathleen Hackett, and Amy Good |
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Bob Hardwick |
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Pat Patterson and Sir John Sawers (British Ambassador to the UN) |
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Maggie Norris and Timur Kocak |
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Irene Aitken and Conrad Kessee |
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Sir Norman, Jane Rosenblume, and John Richardson |
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Kari Tiedemann and Peter Wirth |
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Tina Recanati, Tom Kaplan, and Sir Norman |
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Ambassador Edward Elson and Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel |
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Stephanie Stokes and Stephen De Luca |
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Jessica Mandy, John Wunderlich, and Amy Good |
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John Wunderlich, Amy Good, and Josh Margolis |
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Mrs. Elson, Carl Spielvogel, and Mrs. Albert Small |
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Kathleen Hearst, Peter Wirth, and Barbara Bancroft |
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| On my way out, heading home, I stopped for a sec to look at the skating rink at Rockefeller Center. There are never too many people on the rink after nine at night. You know it’s a really great little sojourn in the middle of the metropolis deep in its canyons of concrete and steel. Watching, it looks like a really great relief from the hustle bustle of the big town. Really great. |
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The skating rink at Rockefeller Center. |
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